Supercharged engine for aircraft



PetentedMei. 2o, 1945- 2 ,371,983

UNITED@fsTATEsTPATENT ortica SUPERCHARGED ENGINE FOR AIRCRAFT Archibald Graham Forsyth and` George James. Smith-Pett, Cheam, England, assignors to The Fairey Aviation Company Limited, Hayes, Midstated Adlesex, England Application 'February 2s, 194,2, serial No. 432,870 In Greet Britain Jury 29, 1941 11 claims. ici. 12s-119) It has been found that in raising the pressure of air by multi-stage compression for a super'- charged aircraft engine, excessive heat is generated, and it is an object of the present invenvided with valvesl to control the flow according to requirements, the valves being operable conl currently with the establishment of driving power for the second supercharger.

Preferably t both superchargers vare driven through variable speed ample, two-speed gear full mechanisms, as for exboxes at moderate"or speeds and for convenience it may 'be that the operation of the improved supercharging arrangementsare preferably effected in four stages, as follows:

valves'are reversed in synchronism with the gear engagement of the second supercharger.

1st stage, take off with the rst supercharger i alone driven at moderate speed,

2nd stage, first supercharger alone'driven at full" speed, l

3rd stage, first 's uperchargerv driven at full speed and second supercharger at moderate speed, 'A t 4th stage,- both superchargers driven at "fulP speed. It is to be understood that during the first and second stages the valve in the air inlet of the first supercharger is open and that of the second supercharger is closed, further that between the second and third stages the positions of these Preferebiy the position of the voive in the air inlet of the first supercharger is controlled hytion to obviate, or at least to reduce, that diss draulicaliy and may be actuated concurrently advantage and to provide improved means for with the gearing 0f the secondsupercharger as raising the air pressure by stages corresponding well as by automatic means dependent on the with the altitude at which the aircraft is ying pressure 0f the atmosphere in Which the machine and a further object is to initiate Such changes is flying, while the position of the valve in the l automatica11y l0 air inlet of the second superchanger is controlled According to this invention an aircraft engine by the pressure Obtaining in the 1011s pipe conis provided, in additign to the usual Supercharger nection between the second supercharger and the at the rear of the engine, with a second super- Carburettor, S0 that at Whatever Sta. the 941',- oharger at the front of the engine, the' output rangement may be working the pressure in the fromv said second supercharger being led by a 5 long P lpe Temains Substantially Constantlon'g pipe to the carburettor of the engine and The autflmatlc Working 0f the arlngement thence to the inlet of the first or rearsupercharg- @rough the four Stages When the aircraft iS er by which the charge is introduced into the enchmbmg 01' Vice Versa may be inmate@ by three gine in the known mannen The secondrsupep barometriccapsules arranged to actuate three charger may be mechanically driven by gem-.ing 20 electric switches at predetermined pressures cor- 'or by an exhaustturbi'ne using the -engmeexhaust responding with predetermined altitudes, so that The long pipe connection between the Second thechangefrom one stage to anotheris eiected supercharger and the carburettor aiords ample at Suhaltltudes' the swltches beug included m opportunity for cooling the compressed an., and electric circuits, for example, thel circuits of soleit mair be formed with fins or may have Aother 2 olds for moving .Piswn Valves for Controlling kngwn 001mg devices the flow of fluid pressure to and from hydraulic i When the aircraft is flying at iovv altitudes cylinders for actuating (ah the Valve in the air only the first supercharger need be employed, and lmet to the mst Supercharger (b) the, clutch air inlets to the two superchargers may be pro- 30 and gear change mechanism of the rstsuper" charger and (c) the clutch and mechanism of the second supercharger.

The invention yis illustrated by way of example vin. the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 1A, 'when taken together, comprise a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of an aircraft engine havingf two superchargers arranged in accordance with the invention.

a is an aircraft engine having at the rear end :thereof a 'supercharger rotor b working in conjunction with a manifold c -which delivers gaseous mixture to the engine a by way of an inlet pipe d,

the rotor b drawing in air through a carburettor- The carburettor e has an air inlet g which may be closed by a valve h and it is also in communication with a' longpipe i which leads from the. manifold k of a. second supercharger at the front.

of the engine a and having a rotor m'. The second supercharger'lcmalso has an air inlet n whichy may be closed by a valve o, the arrangement being suchthat the outputof the, second supercharger km may be led by lway of the long pipe i to the gear change carburettor e and thence to the inlet of the superf' freely rotatable on the shaft) IThis causes the charger bc by which it is introduced intoA the engine a by way of the inlet pipe d.

As illustrated the rotor b of the supercharger bc is driven by a bevel gear wheel p on the crank -shaft q of the engine a meshing with a bevel gear wheel r on a shafts which is the driving shaft of a two-speed gearbox indicated generally as t1 and on the driven shaft u of which the rotorib is mounted. The rotor' m of the supercharger km is similarly driven through a two-speed gear box t2 except that its bevel gear wheel p instead of being mounted directly on the crank shaft q is mounted on a subsidiary shaft v which may be connected with, and disconnected from, the crank shaft q by a clutch w.

For cooling purposes the long pipe i is formed with ns :c enclosed in a casing il having an air inlet Il at its front end and projecting forwardly into the air stream and an outlet I2 projecting rearwardly into the air stream from its rear end.

The valve h for the air inlet g is controlled hydraulically and is actuated concurrently with the clutch zu of the second supercharger km' as well as by automatic means dependent on the pressure of the atmosphere in which the machine is flying. For this purpose the valve h has on its Vhas at its opposite ends ports I9 and 20 communicating with the valve chamber I1 and the latter has a central pressure port 2| and two exhaust ports 22, 23 near its ends, the piston valve I6 having two heads separated by an annular groove so that the pressure port 2| `may be put into communication with either of the ports I9 and 20. Normally the piston valve i6 is innuenced to establish communication between the pressure port 2| and the port I9 so that the valve h. is maintained in its open position; 'that is, the piston I is influenced to' the right as shown in the drawings.

With respect to the two-speed gear tx for the clutch is actuated by a lever 24 connected bya link with the piston,rod25 of a piston 26 in an hydraulic cylinder 21, the dog clutch enabling the crank shaft q to drive the supercharger bc in moderate or full gear alternatively, and, normally, effecting moderate gear drive. It should be manifest that the crank shaft q drives the bevel gear r which rotates the shaft s. A gear 6| on the lower end of this shaft s meshes with the gearl2 on the shaft 63 on which the dog clutch 64 slides.

'supercharger bc it will be observed that a dos which dog clutch is moved upwardly or downwardly by the lever 24. The dog clutch is keyed -to vthe shaft 63 so as to rotate therewith. When the lever 24 is moved upwardly, the dog clutch will slide upwardly on the shaft, and the dogs thereon will engage dogs 66 on thelower gear 61 on the shaft 63 (which gear 61 ordinarily ro' tates freely with respect to the shaft 63) and thus causes this gear 61 to rotate with the shaft 63. The gear 61 meshes with a gear I8 on the shaft u, which shaft is a freely rotatable shaft and the lower end of which carries the rotor b. Thus, the rotor ,is driven at a low or moderate speed.

On the other hand, when the lever 24 is moved downwardly the dogclutch 64 will slide upwardly on its shaft 63, and the dogs 63 will eventually upper gear 1| to rotate with the shaft 62. The upper gear 1| meshes with a gear 12 on the upper end of the uppershaft u, and consequently the shaft u will rotate at a higher rate of speed.

When the lever 24 is 4disposed intermediately between the upper and lower gears on its shaft, then the crank shaft q consequently will not drive the rotor at all, since the dogs on the dog clutch do not engage either of 'the gear wheels of the gears. (f

The piston 26 in the cylinder 21 is double-acting for which purpose said cylinder has at its opposite ends ports 28 and 29 communicating with a valve chamber 30 in which is a piston valve 3| having two heads separated by an annular groove, the distance between said heads being substantially the same as that between the ports 2l and 28, while the valve chamber 30 has a centrally disposed pressure port 32 and exhaust ports 33 and 24 near its opposite ends, the arrangement being such that, according to the position of the piston valve 3|, hydraulic pressure is admitted to the one end of the cylinder 21 and the other end thereof is open to exhaust. The piston valve 2| is iniluenced downwardly by a spring 35 so that normally hydraulic presure is admitted to the cylinder 26 via the pressure port .32, the valve chamber 30, and the port 29, so that the piston 26 is forced upwardly and acting on thelever 24 engages modera gear. Y

In order to engage full" gear for driving the supercharger bc the rod of the piston valve 3| is forced upwardly against the action of its spring 25 when a solenoid 36 is energized at apredetermined barometric pressure corresponding with a predetermined altitude by a barometric capsule I'I acting on the movable member 36 of an electric switch 38, 39. A

In consequence of this arrangement the supercharger bc is driven at moderate speed until the aircraft attains a predetermined altitude (within a reasonable margin depending on the general prevailing barometric pressure) whereupon the gearing in the gearbox t1 is changed to "full gear automatically as a result of the closing of the switch 38. 39, by the barometric capsule 31.

At the right hand end of the cylinder I4 is a a boss 43 on the casing of the clutch w by which the crank shaft q of the engine may be connected with, and disconnected from, the gearing for driving the supercharger km.

When the piston valve I6 is moved to the right in the drawings, as a result of the energization of a solenoid 44, the pressure port V2| is placed in communication with the cylinder |4, via the valve chamber I1 and port 20 and hydraulic pressure is admitted to the cylinder to act on its piston |5 to move it to the left in the drawings to close the valve h in the air inlet o to the carburettor e, the port I9 being placed in communication with the exhaust DOlt 22. When the solenoid 44 is de-energized the piston valve is Y returned to its normal position by its spring: Il

opening the valve h. The solenoid 44 is energized at a predetermined barometric pressure corresponding with a predetermined altitude by a barometric capsule l5 acting on the movable 4engage dogs 10 "on the upper gear 1| (normally 75 .member 46 of an electric switch 46, 41.

` the capsule 54 acts At the same time as the valve h. is closed as above described the hydraulic pressure admitted to the cylinderv I4 is admitted also -via the pipe 4| and channel section ring 42 to passages such as 48 in the boss 43 and thence to a cylinder 49 in the clutch w where it acts on a piston 50 to compress the plates of the clutch w and thus establish driving connection between the crank shaft q and the gearing for driving the supercharger 1cm. f

The gearing inthe gearbox t2 for .the supercharger km is similar to that in the gearbox t1 for the supercharger bc and, normally, is in mesh predetermined barometric pressures obtain the switches 58, 59, then 46, 41 and then 38, 39 open successively as a result of which the sequence of I stages of the supercharger drive are reversed, the piston valves of the double acting pistons being restored to ytheir normal positions inwhich they permit the exhaust of the hydraulic pressure which has moved the pistonsto their abnormal positions and admit hydraulic pressure to act n the pistons to maintain them in their normal positions.

It is -to be understood that when the variable speed mechanisms for driving the superchargers to transmit the drive to the supercharger 1cm at moderate speed as soon as the clutch w is actuated to connect the subsidiary shaftu with the crank shaft q.

The valve o for the'air-inlet n is normally open and is controlled by hydraulic pressure acting on a double-acting pistonl 5I in a cylinder 52 similar to the double-acting piston 26 and cylinder 2l which control the gearbox t1 for the supercharger bc, but the piston valve 53 for controlling the ow of hydraulic pressure to the cylinder 52 is actuated by a barometric capsule 54 in a chamber 55 which'communicates by a pipe 56 with the manifold ic of the supercharger 1cm so that'when the supercharger is driven, the pressure in its manifold k, and hence in the chamber 55, acting on the capsule. 54, brings about the closing of the valve o if the pressure in the manifold k exceeds a predetermined value for which the capsule 54 is set.

In consequence of this arrangement the drivel for the supercharger bc having been rst at ,moderate speed and lthen changed to ,full speed as above described, is maintained at full speed until the aircraft attains a predetermined higher altitude whereupon the switch 46, 41 is closed by the barometric capsule'45, the solenoid 44 is energized, hydraulic pressure acts on the piston i5 to close the valve h and on the piston .adapted-to connect rst said first mentioned sul in the cylinder 49 and acting onthe plates of the clutch w connects the crank shaft q with the gearbox t2 of the supercharger km and causes the latter to be driven at moderate speed, its output being delivered via the long pipe a' (during its passage through which it is cooled) lto the Carburettor e and thence to the supercharger bc by which the pressure of the gaseous fuel is' raised further before being delivered to the engine a via the pipe d. If at any time the pressure in the manifold k exceeds a predetermined value to bring about the closing of the valve o thus reducing the input, and therefore the output of the supercharger km and tending to maintain said pressure constant.

'I'he gearing in the gearbox t2 `for the supercharger km and the manner in which it is controlled corresponds with that for the supercharger bc, and, therefore, need not be described in detail, but the circuit of the solenoid l5'! for actuating its piston valve is controlled by an electric switch 58, 59, the movable member 58 of which is actuated. by a third'barometric capsule provide for more than two speeds, the components for effecting control and the stages in which the operation is effected will be variedcorre spondlngly.

We claim:

1. A 'supercharged aircraft engine having a supercharger disposed at the rear of said engine, a second supercharger disposed at the front of said engine, an inlet to, and an outlet from, each of said superchargers; avalve in each of said inlets, the outlet from the secondmentioned supercharger .being connected withthe inlet to the iirst mentioned supercharger and the outlet fromvthe rst mentioned supercharger being connected with said engine, means for driving said superchargers, and controlling means for each of said driving means, said controlling means being percharger with said engine and then to connect both said superchargers with said engine, and said controlling means being adapted to close the valvel in the inlet to the first mentioned supercharger concurrently with the connection of the second mentioned supercharger with said engine. 2. A supercharged aircraft engine having a supercharger disposed at the rear of said engine, a

second supercharger disposed at the front of said,

engine, an inlet to, and an outlet from, each of said superchargers, the outlet from the second.

mentioned supercharger being connected with the inlet to the flrst mentioned supercharger and the outlet from the first mentioned supercharger being connected with said engine, means for driving said superchargers through appropriate twospeed gear boxes and controlling means for each of said' two-speedgear boxes, said controlling means being adapted to connect first said first mentioned supercharger with said engine through the moderate gear of its appropriate two-speed gear box, then to change said connectionI to the full speed gear in said gearbox, then, whilst maintaining said last mentioned connection, rst to connect said second mentioned supercharger with said engine through the moderate gear of its appropriate two-speed gear box and :finally to change said Yconnection to the full speed gear in the two-speed gear box of said second supercharger.

3. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve inthe inlet to the first supercharger is normallyl open and is provided with means for closing it automatically when the aircraft, attains analtitude where a predetermined atmospheric pressure prevails, said valve closing means comprising a solenoid arranged in an electric circuit and adapted to bring about movement of said valve, a switch in said electric circuit, and a barometric capsulev adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts. l

4. A supercharged. aircraft engine as claimed in claim 1. wherein the opening and closing ot the valve in the inlet to the second supercharger is controlled automatically by a barometric capsule subjected to the atmospheric pressure in the out-I let from said second mentioned supercharger.

5. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve in the inlet to the first supercharger is normally open and is provided with means for closing it automatically when the aircraft attains an altitude where a predetermined atmospheric` pressure prevails, said valve closing means comprising an hydraulic device controlled by a solenoid arranged in an electric circuit and adapted to control said hydraulic device, a switch in said electric circuit, and a barometric capsule adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts.

6. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve in the inlet to the first supercharger is normally open and is provided with means for closing it automatically when the aircraft attains an altitude where a predetermined atmospheric pressure prevails, said valve closing means comprising an hydraulic cyl-` trol the ow of iluid pressure to and from said contracts, said piston valve being spring influenced whereby, when the circuit of its solenoid is broken said piston valve is moved into position to permit the hydraulic pressure to act on the valve in the inlet to the rst mentioned supercharger to maintain it in its normal open position, a clutch ,in the driving means for said second superthe first supercharger serves also to actuate said clutch to connect said second supercharger with said engine.

9. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed v in claim 2, wherein each two-speed gear box is hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid arranged in an close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts.

7. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve in the'inlet to the first supercharger is normally open and is provided with means for closing it automatically when the aircraft attains an altitude where a predetermined atmospheric pressure prevails, said valve closing means comprising an hydraulic cylinder adapted to be connected with a source of iiuid pressure and with exhaust, a piston in said cylinder `connected with said valve, a piston valve working in a Valve chamber and adapted to control the flow of fluid pressure to and from said hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid arranged in an electric circuit and adapted to bring about movement of said piston valve, ra switch in said electric circuit, and a barometric capsule adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts, said piston valve being spring influenced whereby, when the circuit of its solenoid is broken said piston valve is moved into position to permit the hydraulic pressure to act on the valve in the inlet to the first mentioned supercharger to maintain it in its normal open position.

8. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve in the inlet to the first supercharger is normally open and is provided with means for closing it automatically when the aircraft attains an altitude where a predetermined atmospheric pressure prevails, said valve closing means comprising an hydraulic cylinder adapted to be connected with a source of Gil operated by a double-acting piston in an hydraulic cylindervadapted to be connected with a source of uid pressure and with exhaust, a piston valve working in a valve'chamber and adapted to control the flow of iluid pressure to and from said hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid arranged in an electric circuit and adapted to bring about movement of said piston valve, a switch in said electric circuit, and a barometric capsule adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts.

10. A supercharged aircraft engine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each two-speed gear box is operated by a double-acting piston in an `hy draulic cylinder adapted to be connected with a source of uid pressure and with exhaust, a piston valve working in a valve chamber and adapted to control the ow of fluid pressure to and from said hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid arranged in an electric circuit and adapted to bring about movement, of said piston valve,A a switch in said electric circuit, and a barometric capsule adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts, said piston valve being spring influenced whereby when the circuit of its solenoid is broken said piston valve is moved into position to permit the hydraulic pressure to act on the two-speed gear to connect the appropriate supercharger with the engine through the moderate gear.

11. A supercharged aircraft engine having a supercharger disposed at the rear of said engine, a second supercharger disposed at the front of said engine, an inlet to, and an outlet from, each of said superchargers, the outlet from the second mentioned supercharger being connected with the inlet to the first mentioned supercharger by way of a long pipe provided with means adapted to `cool the air passing through said pipe, and the outlet from the first mentioned supercharger being connected with said engine, a valve in each of said inlets, driving means for connecting said superchargers with said engine, said driving means including a two-speed gear box for each supercharger and an hydraulically actuated clutch for connecting said second mentioned supercharger with said engine, controlling means for each of said driving means, said controlling means comprising an hydraulic device which is, in turn, controlled by a solenoid arranged in an electric circuit, a switch in said electric circuit, and a barometric capsule adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule expands and contracts, the valve in the inlet to the rst mentioned supercharger being normally open and being connected with an hydraulic device which is, in turn, controlled by a solenoid arranged in' an electric circuit, a switch in the last mentioned electric circuit and a barometric capsule adapted to close and open said switch as said capsule eX-. pands and contracts, a connection between the last mentioned hydraulic device and said hydraulically actuated clutch whereby said clutch is actuated when iluid under pressure is admitted to said last mentioned hydraulic device to close the valve in the inletl to the rst mentioned supercharger, the valve in the inlet to the second mentioned supercharger being connected with an hydraulic device which is, in turn, controlled by a barometric capsule subjected to the atmospheric pressure in the outlet from said second mentioned supercharger and adapted to bring about the closing and opening of the valve in the inlet tothe second mentioned supercharger as said capsule.

contracts and expands, each of said hydraulic devices comprising a double-acting piston in an hydraulic cylinder adapted to be connected with a source of uidipressure and with exhaust, a piston valve working in a valve chamber and adapted to control the flowof fluid under pressure to and from said hydraulic cylinder, said at moderate speed, then its gear is changed to full speed, then the valve in its inlet is closed, its driving connection at full speed is maintained, the hydraulically operated clutch in the driving means of the second mentioned supercharger is actuated to connect said second mentioned supercharger with said engine to drive said second mentioned supercharger atmoderate speed, the outlet from said second mentioned supercharger being connected with the inlet to said rst menpiston valvebeing'spring influenced normally to a position in which it permits the hydraulic pressure to act on the appropriate double-acting piston to cause said double-acting piston to move thel part with which it is connected to its normal tioned supercharger by said long pipe, and finally, whilstl said iirst mentioned supercharger is driven a1; full speed the gear of the driving means for said second mentioned supercharger is changed to drive said second mentioned supercharger at full speed, said sequence of stages takin-g place in an inversev sense as said electric switches are opened successively. 

